Question

Silicon shows only +4 oxidation state but tin shows both +2 and +4 oxidation state.why?

Answer 1

because tin is 12 groups elements it vallance cell electrons is +2 oxidation state show .

Answer 2

Answer: This happens due to inert pair effect.

Explanation:

Inert pair effect is defined as the tendency of the two paired up electrons in the outermost s-orbital to remain unshared in bonding.

Tin and silicon belongs to the same group that is Group 14. The common oxidation state of this group is +4.

Silicon belongs to the period 3 and Tin belongs to Period 5. Therefore, inert pair is more prominent in Tin than in silicon. So, the two s-electrons in Tin remain unbonded and the oxidation state of +2 also appears.

Hence, tin shows an oxidation state of +2 and +4 but silicon only shows an oxidation state of +4.